Smokeless-powder priming charge.



No. 807,494. PATENTED DEGQIQ, 1905.

I. I. DU PONT.

SMOKELESS POWDER PRIMING CHARGE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. 1905.

UNITED STATES FRANCIS I. DU PONT, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

SMOKELESS-POWDER PRIIVIING CHARGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filedPebruai-y 25, 1905. Serial No- 247,244.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS I. DU PONT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilmington, county of Newcastle, and State of Delaware, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Smokeless Powder Priming Charges, of which the followingis afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to smokeless-powder priming charges for guns of large caliber.

The object of the invention is to produce a charge of priming powder that will ignite a charge of smokeless powder simultaneously at all points. To this end, speaking generally, I provide a cellular body of smokeless powder, in the cells of which is placed a quickburning powder. Ialso provide a means for simultaneously igniting the quickburning powder in all the cells. I can do this latter by providing an orifice or passage in the cellular body, which either may be contiguous to the walls of all the cells or there may be openings from each cell to this orifice or passage. I then by a' primer or other means force a flame through this entire passage. Of course instead of a flame any other desired means may be used to simultaneously ignite the quick-burning powder in all the cells.

I will first describe the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and then point out the invention in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a priming charge embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, and Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same.

a represents a skeleton cylinder of smokeless powder, the same consisting of a cylinder having a series of cells 5 arranged radially and extending inwardly almost to a central orifice 0. There may also be, if desired, orifices d through the walls of the cells into the central orifice or passage 0. The skeleton work is made of such thickness that it will act as a part of the propelling charge in the gun and is of the same material as the propelling charge. It may be manufactured by the method set forth in the patent issued to me December 8, 1903, No. 746,375. The cells 5 and, if desired, the central orifice 0 also are filled with a quick-flashing powder or gun-cotton.

By means of the flashing of the quick-burning powder in the cells the charge of smokei less powder will be ignited instantaneously at all points, because each cell will act practically as a primer, sending forth its flash of flame into the propelling charge. thus enabling the same to act effectively as an ignition charge. The quick-burning powder or charge in the cells may be fired bymeans of a primer 0, inserted at the lower end of the orifice and the flame from which passes through the entire orifice or passage 0.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. A smokeless-powder priming charge, consisting of a skeleton framework of smokeless powder, comprising partitions, forming between them cells-said cells being open at their outer ends, and aquick-burning powder in some or all of the cells.

2. A smokelesspowder priming charge, consisting of a skeleton framework of smokeless powder, comprising radial partitions, forming between them cells said cells being open at their outer ends, and a quick-burning powder in some or all of the cells.

3. A smokeless powder priming charge, consisting of a skeleton framework of smoke less powder, comprising partitions, forming between them cells. said cells being open at their outer ends, a quick-burning powder in some or all of the cells, and a passage com municating with some or all of said cells.

l. A smokeless; powder priming charge, consisting of a skeleton framework of smokeless powder, comprising partitions, forming between them cells said cells being open at their outer ends, a quick-burning powder in some or all of the cells, and means'to simultaneously ignite the powder in the cells.

5. A smokelesspowder priming charge, consisting of a skeleton framework of smokeless powder, comprising partitions, forming between them cells said cells being open at their outer ends, a quick-burning powder in some or all of the cells, a passage and means to simultaneously ignite the powder in all the cells through said passage.

6. A smokelesspowder priming charge, consisting of a skeleton framework of smokeless powder, comprising spaced radially-extending horizontal and vertical partitions, forming between them cells said cells being open at their outer ends, and a quick-burning powder within some or all of the cells.

7. A smokeless-powder priming charge, consisting of a skeleton framework of smokeless powder composed of spaced radially-extending horizontal and vertical partitions, forming between them radially extending cells, a passage extending through the center of the framework, said cells being open at their outer ends and communicating with the central passage at their inner ends, and a quick-burning powder within some or all of I the cells.

"In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand, at VVilmington,Dela- Ware, on this 17th day of February, 1905.

FRANCIS I. DU PONT. Witnesses:

CLIFFORD V. MANNERING, R. J. CoYLE. 

